Why So Many Grieve on Christmas?

How We Bring Back the Joy of the Holy-Days

By Minister Dearest Price, M.Ed

Christmas is called a season of joy, yet for many of God’s children… it is the hardest time of the year.

As lights go up on houses and carols fill the air, a quiet ache sits inside the hearts of countless believers.

And beloved, that ache is real.

It is holy.

It deserves to be spoken.

The Bible never told us to pretend. It told us to cast our cares upon Him, for He cares for us.

So today, we bring our grief to the cross, not to hide it, but to heal it.

1. Grieving Those Who Have Transitioned

There is no loneliness like missing someone who once filled the room with laughter, wisdom, or simple presence.

Christmas magnifies absence, the empty chair, the uncalled phone, the stocking that will not be filled.

And yet, Scripture tells us:

“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

We grieve because we loved deeply.

And we honor them when we continue to love ourselves, our families, our communities, with that same depth.

Heaven is closer than we think, and our loved ones are never far.

They rest in the arms of the One who came so we could live again.

2. Financial Woes and the Pressure of the Season

December can be heavy on the pockets.

Bills don’t disappear because it’s Christmas.

Evictions don’t pause.

Health issues don’t pause.

Life doesn’t pause.

The world tells us Christmas is about buying.

But God tells us Christmas is about being.

Being kind.

Being generous in spirit.

Being present with the ones we love.

Jesus was born in a manger, a feeding trough, surrounded by animals and straw.

If Heaven chose humility, why do we feel ashamed if we don’t have abundance?

Every gift does not need a price tag.

Memory gifts matter more, letters, photos, stories, forgiveness, time, presence.

Some gifts can only be given from the heart.

3. The Loneliness That Wraps Itself Around the Holidays

Loneliness becomes louder in December.

Everybody looks like they have a family, a lover, a tribe, a tradition.

But many sit in silence, longing for connection.

Jesus Himself felt loneliness; even His disciples slept during His darkest hour.

And yet He reminds us:

I will never leave you nor forsake you.

During the holidays, the enemy whispers isolation.

But the Holy Spirit whispers invitation.

Reach out.

Call someone.

Check on the widow, the single mother, the elder, the man living alone, the young person far from home. Participate in outreach. 

We do not heal by hiding.

We heal by connecting.

So What Can We Do? A Holy Response

1. Put Christ First — Not as Decoration, but as Revelation

December is not the literal birth month of Jesus — but it is a symbolic reminder of the truth:

God chose us.

God came near.

God is love.

When we put Christ back at the center of Christmas, the pressure melts away.

Instead of gift lists, we prioritize grace.

Instead of perfection, we embrace presence.

Instead of stress, we choose stillness.

2. Make Every Present Have a Meaning and a Why

Don’t give gifts blindly.

Give with intention.

• A candle that says, “You still bring light.”

  
  

• A journal that says, “Your story matters.”

  
  

• A photo that says, “I remember us.”

  
  

• A prayer card that says, “I’m covering you.”

  
  

When the why is strong, the gift becomes ministry.

3. Share Memory Gifts Over Tangible Gifts

What lasts longer than toys, clothes, or electronics?

Memories.

Storytelling.

Laughter.

Recording wisdom.

Cooking together.

Praying together.

Writing blessings to one another.

A memory gift says:

“You matter to me beyond money.”

These gifts do not break, fade, or get thrown away.

They live on

Restoring the Joy of the Holy-Days

Beloved, joy is not found under a tree.

Joy is found at His feet.

The Holy-Days are not about how much we spend — but how much we love.

We bring back the joy when we slow down, breathe, and remember the greatest truth of this season:

Emmanuel — God with us.

Not God near us.

Not God above us.

But with us.

In our grief.

In our loneliness.

In our lack.

In our healing.

In our rebuilding.

In our becoming.

May this Christmas be less about the world’s expectations and more about God’s invitation —

to love deeper, forgive faster, give meaningfully, and hold each other tenderly.

This is the real joy of the Holy-Days.

This is the ministry of remembering.

This is the season of healing.